40+ artists/musicians, Djs, Live music, traders, food Ghana – Congo DRC – Gambia - Senegal – Barbados – Jamaica - UK
TICKETS ONLY £12.50 for our best event to date!
Wow! Time flies; It’s already been 8 year since we have been entertaining you with some of the best African events in London. Join us to celebrate with 40+ Artists/musicians, traders, DJs, Live Music, African food;
THEME OF THE NIGHT, in collaboration with Kiyana Wraps, "Wrap it up": wear an African Turban/Head Wrap; THE BEST ONES WIN FREE DRINKS
Sura Susso (Gambia - Headliner) after his brilliant performance supporting Youssou N’dour last August at the 02 Indigo, expect something exclusive for our Birthday!
Grupo Lokito (Congo DRC/UK) their blisteringly powerful Cuban and Congolese crossover (Soukous/Rumba/Salsa) is sure to light up the dancefloor.
Victor & The New Vintage (Hip Hop/Psychedelic Rock)
*DJS: 4 to the floor london DJSoulprovyder BROADCITE music T-Roy on the set (Ghana/UK) Playing the best of Afrobeats, Afrobeat, Kuduro, Afro-House etc…
*Stalls African themed traders (clothing, food, arts & crafts, personal care products etc... )
Sura Susso (Gambia) – Kora Virtuoso Originally from the Gambia, Surahata "Sura" Susso was born into a griot family, a tradition that originates from West Africa and refers to cultural figures that carry knowledge and the regional identity of their communities through song, music and poetry. Sura is the son of Mamudou Susso, one of the finest living kora players, and Fatou Binta Cissokho, who was a gifted singer and percussionis. It is no surprise that this young man has talent. Sura fuses his traditional influences with new genres in order to promote his cultural roots and heritage, creating a truly unique and innovative sound. Sura came to the UK at the age of seventeen to tour as the percussionist in his brother’s band, The Seckou Keita Quintet. Tours with the quintet took them all around the world and provided an invaluable experience for Sura to be the professional musician he is today. He honours the role that his elder brother has played in supporting his musical journey. He stepped out in 2012 with the release of his debut album, Sila Kang.
As a soloist, Sura has performed extensively around the world – In March 2012, he was honoured to be invited to play for her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II, as part of the opening ceremony for the Central Manchester City hospitals. As well as performing solo, Sura has been involved in number of collaborations with other artists. He has taken part in more than five hundred shows in over thirty different countries spanning over every continent.
Most recently, Sura has been busy experimenting with fusion sounds in collaboration with high-profile classical and folk musicians, most notably violinist Max Bailie and Erhu player Ling Peng.
In a magical meeting of two string traditions, Max Baillie and Sura Susso present a mix of Baroque and West African music, including pieces by Bach, Merula and centuries-old African bardic spirituals. Having met in Senegal in 2005, Max and Sura have been playing concerts together ever since. In their own right they both lead busy performance careers and are engaged in a range of different projects. As soloists and band members has taken them to stages at major festivals including Womad, Glastonbury, as well as concert venues from London’s Southbank Centre to the Sydney Opera House, and to folk nights in Hackney warehouses and old Berlin ballrooms.
Sura Susso is currently collaborating on a project with Ling Peng that brings together two of the world's oldest instruments: the kora and the erhu. They join forced to explore rhythms, melodies and song from both cultures, joined by Michael Cretu on bass and Mohinder Singh on tablas. The project culminates in a live performance on Sunday 2 October at Djanogly Theatre in Nottingham. http://surasusso.wixsite.com/surakorasusso https://www.instagram.com/surakora/ https://www.facebook.com/surasussomusic
*****************************Grupo Lokito (Congo DRC – UK) – Soukouss/Rumba/Salsa Grupo Lokito fuse contemporary Congolese and Cuban music creating a modern day cocktail of two of the great world musics. Based in London, the band have taken the UK by storm, wowing festivals and the club circuit alike with their blistering grooves and outlandish dance moves. The glorious melodious vocals of Congolese front men Eugene Makuta and Iddo Donnatella blends with soaring guitars courtesy of Congolese guitar hero Mbokalia, rhythmic grooves from Chocolat and the lilting keyboards of Sara. All of this sits on top of the rhythmic powerhouse team of Michel (drums), Emeris (Congas) and Elpidio (bass). Since their formation in 2006 the band have gone from strength to strength, completing several UK tours and building a solid following. As if the grooves weren’t enough, the band have developed a rapport with their audiences which gets everyone up on their feet. Grupo Lokito write their own original tunes: stories of life ranging from love tales, reflections on the trials facing musicians trying to make a home away from home, the wisdom of the elders to the simple joy of dancing. The band are currently recording new material for release later this year. In 2010 the band released their first CD “Esengo Ya Ko Bina” (The Joy of Dancing) capturing the vibrancy and spirit of their stage show. Grupo Lokito have been included in several compilation CDs including: “Latin Beat” on Putumayo (Aug 30 2011), “Urban Africa” on Cavendish Music (2010) and “The Rough guide to African Street Party “ on the World Music Network (2008). www.grupolokito.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/grupolokito/ https://twitter.com/GrupoLokito
Victor & The New Vintage (V&NV) is a soulful eclectic music project from South London, UK! Like all great bands, V&NV remains a trio with Victor Williams at the helm on vocals and guitars and Wayne James on bass and backing vocals. At the core of the band’s percussive element is the exceptionally talented drummer, Yoann Julliard! The team’s music is a tapestry of ‘Hiphop lyricism and psychedelic rock with hints of funky soul around the edges! The sonic landscape of their vibe is filled with memorable hooks and melodic motifs driven by diabolical rhythmic groves made to get you off your feet and DANCE!
Their energy is filled with vintage sound that merges with new ideas which makes their music different and pleasantly accessible. This unit is one to look out for! Listen to their single ‘SLOW’ now https://www.victorandthenewvintage.com/ https://www.facebook.com/victorsnewvintage/
DJS T-Roy Broadcite T.Roy _ on the set - Broadcite music productions label A&R. T.Roy is responsible for the production projects and selection of music that is released on the boutique Broadcite music label catalogue. Doubling up as a tastemaker DJ producing a selection of hot upfront mixes for various FM & online radio platforms, when he is not playing sets or producing fresh also with his distinctive vocal timing, style and charisma T-Roy continues to be the host MC of choice for many UK / global music festivals and events such as – COOP, Asabaako festival (Ghana), Weekend Festival Aubord de l'eau (Switzerland), Worldwide Festival (France), Sunsplash Festival (Turkey), TOGETHER, Broadcite sessions and More… Crafted from his Ghana roots and experiences in the 1990’s UK commercial music circuit, T-Roy is known to be ahead of the curve while the masses jump on a new sound, one of the London’s foundation promoters and advocates of experimental fusion of African music and the deep Afro house sound to evolve out of London over past and recent years. The phrase ‘’T.Roy ‘’on the set’’ was born to describe his driving force for positive vibes and exploration on all music formats.
“T-Roy continues to connect the dots between the evolving underground music scene in London and contemporary world music’’ TIME OUT
DJSOULPROVYDER Ian Milne As a record collector and DJ since 1991 DJ Soulprovyder originally started playing 70s soul jazz funk and rare groove alongside a ten piece funk band called Black 2 Basic. They ran a live music jam session for over ten years called “Spontaneous Construction”. His current sets include a selection of past and present music with a flexibility of joining the dots and crossing over many musical genres, journeying from his disco and afro latin jazz funk roots to a deep electronic tech house sound. Ian has played at many venues across London over the years including Ronnie Scotts, Jazz Café, Koko, Sketch, Momo’s, East Village, Plan-B, Trapeze, POW to name a few as well as big festivals such as the Isle of Wight and V Festival for the award winning Barcardi B-Bar. In 2013 he had the honour of being asked to DJ at the legendary Southport Weekender (SPW) afterparty in the SunCeBeat Dome arena. 2014 had him playing at the second Love Supreme Jazz Festival in the Matua Bar with the Jazz FM DJ’s. He became one of the resident DJ’s at the SUNSPLASH FESTIVAL in Turkey since its inception in 2009 playing alongside artists and djs such as Louie Vega, Kenny Dope, Giles Peterson, Norman Jay, Phil Asher, AtJazz, Shuya Okino, Zara McFarlene, Osunlade, and Karizma.
KIYANA WRAPS KIYANA WRAPS is a start-up company and brand based in London. Since 2011, it has been consolidating and developing the brand to make a space for itself within the hair and accessories market for women, not only carving a niche for itself selling turbans and headwraps, but also being at the forefront of sophisticated workshop experiences.
KIYANA WRAPS is the recipient of two European awards for Best Head Wrap Stylists. The brand has been featured in German vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Black Beauty Magazine, Pride Magazine, Huffington Post and Aljazeera to name a few. They are the 'Next Brand To Watch', and proud to have Hollywood trusted adviser Daphne Wayans as Kiyana Wraps Brand Ambassador and Mentor. www.kiyanawraps.com https://www.facebook.com/KiyanaWraps/
FREE WORKSHOPS 12.00 – 1pm - WORKSHOP by YEMALLA, Women Cultural group - drumming, singing and dancing
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